Aspect of stealth games you love

[happyninja42]

Oh boy, where to start:

1. Non-Lethal options. Most stealth games allow for a non-lethal approach, and after 35 years of playing video games, I like having non-lethal options. I don't mind me some killing games, but I find I enjoy games that have other options more these days.

2. The humor. Ever since the original Thief trilogy, stealth games have tried to insert some humor into the game, based on the fact that someone is actually watching someone else, who is oblivious to that observation. So the devs will make them say funny things, or ironic things given the context from your point of view.

3. The expanded storyline. Stealth games frequently include side plot threads that are only discovered if you are being sneaky. Overhearing a conversation between two people that hint at a hidden location. Hearing how the boss of this one servant is a total asshole, and the servant has an idea on how to get some payback...but isn't a master of stealth and infiltration...oh look I totally am! Karma *****!

4. The voyeuristic nature of it. I'm something of a voyeur, even as a kid I would sneak around IRL too. It's just fun to be unobserved and watch people when they don't know they are being watched. Not in a sexual way, but just seeing how people behave when they aren't being observed. Stealth games indulge that behavior.

5. It's just fun. There is a level of ego stroking to the idea of being able to just slip through a "secure facility" without them even knowing I'm there. Moving through like a shadow, unseen, unheard, taking what I need/want, despite their best efforts to the contrary.

 

[Neurotic Void Melody]

There are many, stealth is my main man, man! Much has already been covered in this thread that I fully concur with. But I do think it works better for people who experience social anxiety, while also training you with future getaway techniques for...err...no reason that I need to divulge here, yet. The relaxed feeling of being tense is a unique ambivalence with troughs and peaks throughout a single encounter. Plus can appreciate clever AI programming too.

Styx: A stealth game for goblins is a recentish little title with some unique tricks, including the ability to throw up a small, malformed, mentally deficient clone of yourself to distract or lead guards away from your position. There is a confusing ethical problem there, but you're a murderous goblin, so it's probably what they do in real life.
Non lethal is another one I casually aim for, but am not too bothered if a particularly bothersome moment can only be fixed with my trusty shotgun in place of losing to their insipid day jobs.

Have noticed with games like TLOU and Uncharted that they are using stealth in team multiplayer quite effectively, if it wasn't for the small number of maps and eventual repetition, I could probably really get into them enough to not always have the shitty starting gear and boring clothing options without paying the micro-transaction fairies.

It's all about using brains and patience to overcome the odds in a way much more believable than tanking the bullets and healing from the aether around you. Like a sleek, pouncing Jaguar in the night! Purrr! Or...maybe grrr!?

 

[Yopaz]

Jesus, just let me sneak around. Which is why Deus Ex does good stealth. Really enjoyed playing a stealth build in Human Revolution, minus the boss fight(xbox).

They added multi-solution boss battles in the director's edition, I hear. I didn't need alternative solutions though... except for that duel SMG wielder. Silenced pistol and non-lethal all the way.

I distinctly hated its lethal takedowns... It makes too much noise and gives less exp points. I thought killing was suppose to be an easy, but morally incorrect solution... But in DX:HR lethel takedowns are always more punishing.

And you can't do executions either.(shooting unconscious enemy with silenced weapon)

You can do executions. That is in fact one of the things that make it hard to get a pacifist run as it is possible that an enemy dies even if you use non-lethal methods. I've killed plenty of enemies after knocking them unconscious, dragging them into air vents then shooting them in the head. Mostly cops.

OT: I like the tension of having the enemies close while you're hiding and then remain undetected. I also like perfect runs without being detected and without killing anyone. Makes you feel extra sneaky.

 

[Pirate Of PC Master race]

You can do executions. That is in fact one of the things that make it hard to get a pacifist run as it is possible that an enemy dies even if you use non-lethal methods. I've killed plenty of enemies after knocking them unconscious, dragging them into air vents then shooting them in the head. Mostly cops.

OT: I like the tension of having the enemies close while you're hiding and then remain undetected. I also like perfect runs without being detected and without killing anyone. Makes you feel extra sneaky.

I mean that you won't get "undetected" bonus at the end of the game.
They are knocked out, damnit.
And as long as you don't drag bodies so much, they won't die... probably. I think I have non-lethal game clear.

 

[Mister K]

For me it's being able to achieve your goal while killing/harming the smallest number of people.

 

[SquidVicious]

Probably reflects poorly on me but I like the voyeuristic element, at least when it's present. Sitting in the shadows and listening to guards talk to each other is always fun. I also like the tension of having been spotted, chased, finding a new hiding spot, and waiting for the guards to pass by. The tension of having to do things out in the open while guards are around is also quite exhilarating, like day 2 of the Election Day heist in PAYDAY 2 where you have to wait 30 seconds while hacking voting machines as guards wander around. In fact, most of PAYDAY 2's stealth missions can be quite fun, apart from the RNG aspects making things more difficult than they need to be.

 

[Chimpzy_v1legacy]

Big Riddick fan here, and I can't help but wonder why he would need a flashlight when he "had to kill a lot of people" for night vision. You might be thinking of the Metro games.

Well, there is a sizeable part at the beginning of Butcher Bay where you don't have your built-in night vision yet. Maybe I'm thinking of that, but I'm probably remembering things wrong. Been a while since I've played it.

You're right about Metro tho. And I'm pretty sure human enemies can see your flashlight in The Last of Us too (but somehow not Ellie or her flashlight, unless you've playing as her[footnote]But that's no doubt done for gameplay purposes. No one likes their AI allies continuously messing up their sneaking. I'm looking at you, modern Fallout[/footnote]).

 

[Yopaz]

You can do executions. That is in fact one of the things that make it hard to get a pacifist run as it is possible that an enemy dies even if you use non-lethal methods. I've killed plenty of enemies after knocking them unconscious, dragging them into air vents then shooting them in the head. Mostly cops.

OT: I like the tension of having the enemies close while you're hiding and then remain undetected. I also like perfect runs without being detected and without killing anyone. Makes you feel extra sneaky.

I mean that you won't get "undetected" bonus at the end of the game.
They are knocked out, damnit.
And as long as you don't drag bodies so much, they won't die... probably. I think I have non-lethal game clear.

Aah, I misunderstood what you were talking about. I also didn't know executing them would ruin undetected so I guess I learned something new today. Sorry about that.

Edit: Also what I mean is that when you knock enemies out they might die from other things that will ruin your pacifist run. I have had people falling down from ledges, into water (and electrocuted) and sometimes dragging them too far might kill them.
There's also the time you go back to China (spoilers).

Spoiler: Second time in china

When you are trying to save Malik after the helicopter crash enemies might get killed by the exploding robot ruining your pacifist run

 

[Squilookle]

I'm gonna be super edgy here and say I'm actually really fond of guards having goldfish memories. Everyone always wails on about how unrealistic it is for guards to just forget you were there, but personally that's a bit of breathing room from a game I appreciate. otherwise no matter how long you've snuck around or how close you are to the end, getting spotted just once is a game over. Nuts to that...

 

[Shoggoth2588]

I like the idea of picking off enemies one-by-one. One of my favorite things is how Arkham Asylum would give you a room full of armed dooms but by the end, that final guy would realize he's all alone and would practically be pissing himself. Paradoxically, I also like when guards aren't aware of each other in older games so you have the option of knocking out/killing every guard EXCEPT for one. It's not something you see but I like the idea that there's this one gormless guard who doesn't realize how lucky he is to have not been incapacitated.

 

[Tanis]

Syphon Filter:
I liked sneaking behind people and shocking them in the balls.

TES games:
I like killing a crap load of people, and then still being praised my pants-on-head retarded NPCs.
XD

 

[Bilious Green_v1legacy]

The variety of approaches and techniques you can use to eliminate your target. Hitman has always been great for allowing you to everything from slipping into the place and making it look like an accident, through to going in all guns blazing and messing up the joint. My favourite playstyle is trying to figure out how to get in and get without being noticed to perform the perfect kill.

 

[PurplePonyArcade]

Strangely enough I have found myself a bit hard to get into the Hitman games, but one thing I can appreciate all stealth games that do one thing I really like is being able to hide bodies. I also enjoy having the choice of using either lethal or non lethal means to deal with foes. Distracting enemies is so fun to do! Like when you can throw an object or tab something its great.